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Jun 19, 2015 at 3:58 PM

Planning and Sustainability Commission scheduled to vote to recommend the new plan on July 14

On June 23, the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) will hold its final work session to discuss the draft recommended plan. This draft is based on public testimony from six public hearings and more than 4,000 comments submitted via email and letters, and through the Map App. The Commission is tentatively scheduled to recommend the draft 2035 Comprehensive Plan to City Council for consideration on July 14.

A final Recommended Draft (including goals, policies and land use map) will be published and sent to City Council in mid-August. Council will then hold a series of work sessions around topics such as employment land, housing, centers and corridors, mixed use zones and the Transportation System Plan. Starting in November, Portlanders will have a chance to testify in person at several public hearings on the Recommended Draft. Council will be accepting written comments from the time the final Recommended Draft is published in mid-August until the public hearings close.

Early Implementation: Zoning Code Updates

In the meantime, the early implementation projects (zoning code updates) for the Comprehensive Plan Update are moving forward. Discussion drafts for employment land, campus institutions, mixed use zones and other zoning updates will be released starting in July and extending into September. Bureau of Planning and Sustainability staff will accept comments on these drafts and use them when developing the project proposed drafts for the PSC.

Portlanders are invited to chat with city planners about how these new rules will affect their neighborhood during Neighborhood Office Hours throughout the city. Times and locations are posted on the Comprehensive Plan Update calendar.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE PROCESS/TIMELINE

The 2035 Comprehensive Plan (Land use map, policies, project list)

PSC vote to recommend the plan to City Council: July 2015

Transmittal of PSC’s Recommended Draft to City Council: Mid-August 2015

City Council holds work sessions: September – October 2015

City Council holds public hearings: November – December 2015

Council adopts the plan (goals, policies and land use map): January 2016

Jun 19, 2015 at 3:35 PM

On June 3, Portland City Council unanimously approved a resolution instructing the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) to establish a pilot program to advance deconstruction (disassembly of structures in order to salvage materials for reuse). Mayor Hales said that Council is committed to moving fast on this issue. He also reiterated that the Portland community has shown a strong interest in moving in the direction of deconstruction as one of the ways to help address the recent increase in neighborhood demolition rates.

Members of Council and some testifiers also highlighted many of the benefits of deconstruction, including an increase in the amount of recovered materials that may be re-purposed and diverted from landfills, preservation of historic features and materials, a decrease in exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos, and reduction of carbon emissions. .

The pilot program will provide deconstruction training, education, technical assistance and financial incentives for innovative projects. Deconstruction classes are scheduled to commence this fall, and BPS is expected to report back to Council on program status and next steps in January 2016. The pilot is funded through a grant from the Solid Waste Management Fund reserve, administered by BPS.

The design and execution of the pilot program will be conducted with continued discussion and input from the Deconstruction Advisory Group (DAG), convened in April. The group includes a wide range of experts including deconstruction contractors, salvage retail outlets, historic preservationists, developers, a recycler/hauler, the Bureau of Development Services (BDS), Mayor’s office, and Metro staff, as well as members of the Development Review Advisory Committee (DRAC) and United Neighbors for Reform.

Jun 19, 2015 at 3:22 PM

As the new property manager for an apartment building in Northeast Portland, Marty realized he needed a little help in managing the garbage and recycling collection area. Every week he noticed an increase in recyclable items showing up in the garbage, and wanted to figure out how to stop it. Marty reached out to Portland’s Multifamily Waste Reduction Program for free garbage and recycling resources and onsite assistance to support his residents with successfully getting discarded items into the right containers.

With onsite assistance from the Multifamily Waste Reduction Program, including an assessment of current operations, Marty now has increased the number of recycling containers. He also received informational materials for residents who speak a language other than English and added durable multilingual signs to make the recycling, garbage and composting collection area more accessible and easier to use. Now, residents have a much easier time getting recyclable items in the right containers.

Since 2004, Portland’s Multifamily Waste Reduction Program has been working with property owners, managers and maintenance staff to make recycling, composting and waste disposal accessible and easy for residents. The program provides free educational materials and technical assistance to help prevent garbage and recycling mistakes, making a property manager’s job much easier.

Portland is growing and the Multifamily Waste Reduction Program, along with garbage and recycling companies, play an essential role in navigating the garbage and recycling challenges and opportunities inherent in the city’s multifamily housing development. Over the next few years, the program will focus on strengthening communication channels with existing property managers while establishing strong relationships with builders and property managers of new multifamily sites. The program will make every effort to streamline educational outreach to make it as clear, straightforward and effective as possible. Outreach efforts tailored to the specific needs of property owners and managers will ensure more multifamily households in Portland have the necessary tools and resources to increase and improve recycling efforts.